The Quest for the Heart Orb by Laura Jo Phillips Page A

long, slender neck before the women turned to walk away from where he stood.  His gaze caught helplessly on her hips as they swayed in graceful counterpoint to the mass of shining golden braids that fell to the small of her back.  It was all he could do to hold back the groan that rose in him.  He had to remind himself very sternly, for at least the hundredth time, that he was not worthy of a woman such as Ren.  He could look his fill, but he would keep his distance.
    “Marl,” a familiar voice said.  He’d heard the sound of approaching footsteps so wasn’t startled that someone was behind him.  He was mildly surprised, however, to be addressed.  He turned around and lowered his head in a respectful nod.
    “Sir Garundel.”
    “Prince Zakiel tells me that we have you to thank for the safety of the Maiden of the Heart,” Garundel said.  “You are to be commended.”
    The memory of Ren staring at him in surprise as he ran toward her, oblivious to the bear-cat mere feet behind her, it’s fangs and claws bared as it prepared to pounce, flashed through his mind, freezing the blood in his veins.  He pushed the image away.  “It was luck,” he replied, glad that leading his own Hunter Pack had taught him how to hide his true thoughts and emotions.  “I just happened to be in the right place, at the right time.”
    “What of the bear-cat?” Garundel asked, not bothering to argue with the obvious and, from Marl, expected, understatement. 
    “The spear finished the job before I reached it,” Marl said.  “I regretted it’s destruction until I saw that the poor beast had a gangrenous paw.  It must have been half mad from the pain.”
    “We’re fortunate it didn’t attack anyone sooner,” Garundel said, hiding his surprise.  That was the most Marl had said in weeks, and he hadn’t even had to drag it out of him.  What had changed?  “Thank you, Sir Marl, for your quick actions.” He paused to look Marl up and down with a critical eye.  “You appear to have recovered well from your ordeal.  What do you think about returning to full duty?  Are you ready for that?”
    “Very much so, Sir Garundel,” Marl said, mildly surprised.  He’d thought he was being kept off regular duty because he was no longer trusted. 
    “Excellent.  I’ll tell Sir Tomas to add you to the rotation beginning tomorrow morning.”
    “Thank you, Sir Garundel,” Marl said, trying to quell the rush of excitement that filled him.  Regular rotation meant he’d spend at least two hours each day in close proximity to the women.  And Ren.  He tried to tell himself it was a mistake, that he should ask Garundel to modify his rotation, but he could not make himself say the words.
    Instead, he watched Garundel walk away, then turned back to see if he could catch another glimpse of Ren.  Unfortunately, the women were nowhere to be seen.  He leaned against the building and prepared to wait.  They’d return before too long, and he really wanted just one more quick look at Ren.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    “ Djeb-Ib ,” Zakiel said, shaking his head.  “I shouldn’t be surprised.”
    “ Djeb-Ib ?” Karma repeated slowly.  “What does that mean?”
    “ Ib is an ancient word that means mind, heart, and soul, collectively.  It’s that which makes a person who and what he or she is,” Zakiel explained.  “ Djeb simply means tower .  Kapia didn’t tell you this?”
    “Not the name, no,” Karma said.  “She did say that the palace was built around the tower, and that it’s filled with water.”
    “Yes,” Zakiel said.  “The water in the tower isn’t river water.  It’s spring water brought up from deep within the earth, though no one knows how.  It’s said that Vatra Gariel created the tower and whatever method keeps it filled, and I’ve no doubt that’s true.  I was taught that the tower was built to help keep the palace cool, and to provide a ready supply of clean water to the